Adjustable bed.



L. J. GRONDE. ADJUSTABLE BBD. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1908.

Allaman-.ea Mans, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` L. J. GRONDE.

ADJUSTABLE BBD.

,APPLIUATIOH FILED SEPT. 23, 1908.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE. LOUIS J'. GIRONDE, 0F CHICAGOg-l: A'SSGdIOR t0l? ONE-HAiLiF T0 PHTLliP J'. i

SIEBOLD, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 4

ADJUSTABLE BED.

Specification of Letters Patent Application filed September 23, 1908. Serial No. 454,437. v i

- Patented Mar; e, i910.

Vwhich the following is .a specification.

This invention relates to adjustable beds and its object is to provide a bed lfor use in hospitals and other places where invalids are being taken care of, in which dierent portions ogf the bed .may be mechanically elevated' or depressed as desired so that the invalid' occupying it may, with comfort sitV up, in a more or' less upright posit/ion, as

desired. t

The invention consists in mechanim by i means of which Athe s rings .are hinged in going devices in such a way that it does not' interfere with the tilting of thevariousv .the middle of the be and either portion may be raised at the will of the operator to inclined position so as to support the patient occupying the bed `in sitting or semi sitting position. Y. f

The invention also consists in means by means of which .one half of the bed pro er is .divided and ,either quarter of the ed .may be separately elevated orthe two parts may bel jointly .elevated and depressed as described.

The invention more in detail'consists in novel mechanism for spring supporting different parts of the device and in other details o construction which will be hereafter. described.

Incidental to the foregoing the invention consists in a novel .form of mattress capable of being used in connection with lthe foreparts .of the bed.

Referring to the drawings in which similai` .characters indicate the same parts `throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a side view of a mattressdesigned to be used upon the bed mechanism proper which is shown in plan view in Fig. 2. Fig; 3 isa side view of a bed corresponding to Fig. 2

illustrating the mechanism .of this invention applied thereto. Fi 4 is a side and 5 an `end detail view o the lift' mechanism for the head end of the bed. f ig.' 6 is an with said lifting mechanisms. Fig. 9- Ais a sectional detail view on line .9-9flf`. ig. 10. Fig. 10 is an emerged .detail view taken just inside the members 35 and 3G as viewed in Fig; 2 and looking the bed. Fig. 11 is an end and Fig. 12a' side detail view of the crank. mechanism for the foot .end of the bed. Fig. 13 is a side and F' 14 a plan detail view of two sec- .the 'head board 21 and the foot board These are here shown Ain the ordinary iron .or

' brass bedstead forni but they are made in any of the .common and well known forms.-

Rigidly secured to the side rail 19 isa stud '8 v 24 extending inwardly 4toward the center otj the bed and in line 'with this st ud and coiespondingly mounted .upon side rail 20 is en other stud 25. Hinged upon each .of these' haring :the side boards or rails 19 and 120 75 studs 24 .and 25 are hinge leaves 26 and `27 85 of a hinge. Each of these' hinges is as shown adjacent to the side rails 1.9 or 20 as the case may be.v Inside of each of these hinges and slidably mounted -upon each stud 24 and 25 is an upright plate member l28 to .which is 90 riveted one end of a suspension angle har or iron 29 extending across the hed as best seen in Fig. 10. -The studs 24 and 25 pass .through I elongated slots 30 in .the upright members 28 and the upright members witlrthev bar 2 9 95 are therefore movable upward and downward through a distance equal -to the lengths of the slots. This bar 29 is ,normally held in raised position by s rings 32 best seen in 7 and 8 so that w the bar 29 that load is suspended upon said springs 3 2, ,the bar 29 being as stated free to move upward and downward underthe action of a load placed upon it and against the resistance of the springs 32.

As heretofore stated .the object of this invention is to provide 'a bed mechanismby .Which different portions .0f .the supporilng mechanism 'of the bed Proper may be elvoted anddepressed. Broadly stated this is 11C toward the outside .of

tions o the mattress showin the means by 65.

n a load is put upon v10o "as v hinges and t e members40 and 4l are independently connected to a hinge mechan accomplished by making the bed proper in three parts one half for the body and one quarter for each lower limb of the occupant; hinging the two latter to the former and providmg an elevating mechanism for each part. As the comfort of the user is to be `considered it fis highly desirable that the whole be ring equipped though manifestly broay stated the springs may bev omitted without departing from the main invention. A The preferred form of mechanism illus- Vtrating not only the broad invention but the details will now be described. The outer frame or border of the springs of the bed in question consists of the members 33., 34,

35, se, '37, ss, 39, 40, 41, 42 43, 44, 45, 4e and 47 ,having interconnected Ybetween them wire circular members 48, connecting wires 49 and springs 50. The members 35 and 46 are respectively connected to the leaves 27 of the hinges heretofore described mounted uponthe adjacent studs 24 and 25. The members 36 and 45 are respectively connected to corr onding 'members 26 of said ism52 suspended -upon bar 29 in any suitf able manner. The result of this construction just described is that in e'ect the spring of the bed 1proper. is divided'into two parts hinged a ong the central transverse axis of the bed so that the head portion hereafter for convenience, referred to as section A-B may be tilted upward on the hinge pivots 24 and 25 and that the other half of the spring proper ofthe bed is divided into halves of itself or quarters of the whole bed hereafter referred to as sections C--D and E-F so that either portion designed to be normally occupied by `the limb of a person may be -tilted upward as shown.

' For convenience in makin \.the head portion fit 'the' back of an invali insemi sittin position the members 34 and 35 are'hinige together at 55 and the members 46y and 47 are hinged together .in a parallel hinge 56 thereby dividin this section into the parts A and B. It w be noticed that the amount of movement of the parts A andB with reference to each other is limited by the inclined faces 56B.' For the purpose of allowing the foot supporting portions D and F of the limb supporting portions C-D and E--F to drop own so that 'the occu ants feet may rest approximately on a leve with the floor the members 36 and 37 are hinged to 57; theimembers'39and -40 are hinged together at 58; the members 41 and 42 arehinged at 59 and the members 44 and 45 arehinged together at 60. The .hinges 5 7,

58; 59 and 60 are uponL the op osite side of vthe-spring bed frame from t e hinges 55 land 56 so that section A bends with reference to section B, in the. reverse 4tion teneva from that in which section D bends with reference to section G and section F bends 'f with reference to section E.

It` will be'seen that by the construction above described the spring mechanism 48---49--50l runs from the ody section A-B down each of the lower limb sections C--D 'that the springs 32 4support the metal members 39-4041-42 so that their presence is unobjectionable to the occupant of the bed should he accidentally come in contact more or less directly with them.

Rigidly` connected to the side rail for frame 20 of the bed and adjacent to sections A and B of the spring bed preperis a depending bracket 62- having journal bearings 63 and 64 in its lower portion for a Worm 65 carrying at its one outer end a U shaped yoke 66. lin or on the upper portion of this bracket 62 is journaled one-end of the shaft 67 extending across the bed, the opposite end thereof bein journaled in a suitable casting correspon ing to the casting 62, but not here shown, secured to the under side of the side rail 19. Rigidly connected to this shaft 67 and in the same plane as the worm 65 is a segmental gear 69 having upon its face worm teeth 70 meshing with the worm 65. Rigidly connected to the shaft 67 and just inside the vertical flange of the member 47 is a lever 72 carrying on its opposite end a roller 73 adapted to travel upon the under side ofthe horizontal fiange of the member 47. `Similarl mounted Aupon the opposite end of the s aft 67 and adjacent to the member 34 heretoforedescribed is a duplicate lever 7 2-and wheel 73 (not shown) bearing upon the under side of the horizontal Hange of the member 34. The result of the foregoing"construction is that when the worin 65 is rotated in one direction sections A and B of the bed are moved by the levers 72 and the rollers 73 to the vertical or full line position shown in Fig. 3 and when the levers 72'are moved to the dotted line position in Fig. 3 withthe result that the relatively lleavy parts constitutingsections 'A and B of the bed descend of their own vweight until the blocks 77 upon the lower ends ofthe sprin s 78 attached, as shown to the extreme en portions of section A of the bed, rest upon the horizontal angle ironA worm is rotatedin. the opposite direction the 66 heretofore described the other end connected by universal joint 82 to an upright shaft 83 journaled in a suitable bearing 84, the upper end of the shaft 8 3 havinga non circular portion 85 to which any suitablev wrench may be applied to rotate the shaft 83 and consequently the worm.

In view of the well known friction existing in 'worm mechanisms it is manifest that sections Aand B of the bed are locked in any position in which the worm mechanism may be left standing supporting them.

A too high elevation of the parts of the bed just described is guarded against by the angularity of the faces 87 and 88 of the leaves of the hinges 27-26 heretofore 'cle-v scribed, it being manifest that when the elevating mechanism just described moves the portions of' sections A and B of the bed member 87 carrying those sections of the bed until the faces 8l of the hingeleaves 27 engage the faces88 of theadjacent leaves 26 no further elevation of the sections A "and B canbe made without breaking something. This feature prevents injury to the patient by too high elevation of any one of the movable parts.

Across the under side of the bed frame proper is rigidly secured an angle iron 90 adjacent to the' ends of the members 45, 41, and 36v and the hinges 57, 58, 59 and 60 said angleiron being adapted to support said'portions of the side `members ofl sections E and C of the bed vwhen they are in horizontal position from which it follows that these sections of the bed like section A and B of the bed can be elevated from horizontal position but can not be depressed below said position.

Rigidly connected to theside member 20 of the bed proper and preferably nearer the end thereof than the bar 90 just described is a depending bracket 92carrying at its lower end suitable bearings 93 and 94 in which a worm 95 corresponding closely to the worm v heretofore described is mounted'. VThe outer end of this worm 95 carries a yoke' shaped member 96 corresponding to the yoke 66. Journaled in the upper portion of th1s bracket 92 within a sleeve 104 hereafter described is a shaft 97 extending across the bed parallel to the shaft 67 .i This shaft is journaled at.the' middle line of the bed in the members 99 and 100 bestseen inFig. 6. Rigidly secured tothe shaft 97 and in the same planes as the members 37y and 39 are lever arms 101 identicalwith lever'7 2 carrying at their outer'end rollers 101!i like -rollers 73 which rollers bear against the under sides of the members 37 and 39.' Inclosing that portion of the shaft 97 which is between the members 42 and 44 of section `Fof. the bed is a sleeve 104 carrying leverfarms 105 which 1n turn carry rollers '101i identical with rollers 73 bearing againstl the under sides of the members 42 and 44. This sleeve extends around the shaft 97 and through the casting or bracket 92 as best seen iii-Fig. 4.

0n `this projecting end of the .sleeve 104 is rigidly secured a se mental 'gear 106 identil707 scribed. The segmental gear 106 has identi? cal worm teeth meshing with a worm 108 parallel to the worm 95heretofore described.

The worms 95 and 108 are as shown parallel'v to each other in a horizontal plane,

From the foregoing it V'will' readily. beV

seen that rotating the worm 95 in one direc- -tion will cause the shaft 97 to move the arms 101 to lift sections C and D ofthe bed to the elevated. position lshown in Fig. 3 and that rotating said worml in the opposlte direction will.move the arms 101 and at.

. `Any suitable mechanism maybe used for rotating these Worms but forconvenience it is desirable to provide -a mechanism adjaf cent to the end of the bed by means of which the operator may rotate either worm as desired by which a single mechanism such as a .crank handle may rotate both worms simultaneously. In order to accomplish this purpose there is rigidly attached lto the side member 20 of the bed by any suitable means a depending bracket 110 carrying suitable bearings 111, k112 and 113 in which are :re-

`spectively journaled short shafts 114, 115

and 116. The shafts 114 and 116 carry pinions 118 and 119 not in mesh with each other and non circular projecting stems 120 and.

121 to which a wrench may be attached. The shaft 115 carries no pinion but does have a non circular stem 122. The shaft 114 is connected by a rod. 124 and' universal joints correspondingto those heretofore def scribed to a worm'108.- Shaft 116 is ,connected 4by a rod 125 and similar universal joints tothe worm 95.- A wrench 127 having a handle 128 is provided, the wrench having a non circular hole 129 corresponding to the'shapes o f--the stems 120, 121 and 122 heretofore described.. This wrench also carries a pinion 130 so shaped and toothed that.

when the wrench is upon the stem 1h22 in the manner shown in Fig. 10 it meshes with the pinions '118, and 119 and rotating the crank will therefore rotate throughV the mechanisms described both the sleeve 104 and the shaft 97 in the same direction. When .the

either stem 120 or 1:21- as desired the mechanism attached to the stem thus engaged b `the-wrench will'be rotated vby the wrenc while the other stem and attached parts re# main at, rest. The result of this is that the operator may Afoot sections of the bedindependently or at will elevate either-of the simultaneously as' desired. .l

As anjordinar'y stiff mattress could vnot'be readily used upon a bed of this character in which the two halves of the` bed are 'capable of elevation through an angle of about 90 degrees it is necessary to provide a mattress l which is jointed, the joints -corres vonding 'i devised the same consisting of sections 132` Y and 133 joined together at suitable intervals 20 these straps being connecte as lshown to to the hinge joints heretofore descri ed. In orderto accomlish this pur ose the mattressjshown in'y igajll,4 10 an 11 has been by straps 134 and `135 the o posite ends of opposite'sldes `of the mattress section with` e-result that a free. and easily bendable l joint isl formed allowing the mattress to acspective hinges at their ends. In general operation of the shown is equipped with a mattress conform-2 4commodate itself easily to any position de'-v Slred. l Y

For convenience of description and refer-v ence thereto in the claims it should be noted that the edges ofthe tiltable frame sections areV U shaped and are connected to the reing to the various movable sections;v The on stionsV .Af-B and his lower limbs on 'byLettersPatenQisz 4 v Y 1.',A. bed-'.ofthe'classdescribed comprissections Cf-D' and-E-EI-respectively. By Y manipulating-thevariousftilting mechanisms the' operator canplace the patient in any desix-edl position y A 1 What I claim as new' and desreto secure vmentioned portions and the` bod tilting means for each of the lim support' iframe device thebcd frame and spr' patient lies thereon with hisbody and headl Aposes set forth.l

@time ing a` body supportingdportion and two j supporting portions a jacent to each' other, hinge connections between each of the latter ing mechanisms andan operatingfmember detachably connected to each of sa1d operat-` ing mechanismsadapted to move the limb.

supporting portionsjof the device in unison.

2. In mechanism of. the class described the combination of-a bed spring mechanism capable of' supporting a person,- divided transversely along approximately the transportion,

verse middle line into two parts one'fof said parts being lalso divided alon approximately the lo 'tudinal middle e o f the bed into two ot er parts, mechanism for independently hinging each of the' last mentioned parts tothe remaining half of the bed and operatingl mechanism 'attached to v eachV v .of the three parts, of the springmechanism g the'an-f capable when operated of vchan gu ar position of that ypart o --theqspring mechanism with reference to the otheriparts thereof and. an voperating 'mechaism1 de Y tachably connected to -two of the first'memv tioned operating `mechanisms for' vmoving themin unison.

;. v3.11m a device ofthe'class i up and down with referen to t ing said bar. e evated position for -thepur- In' witness whereof, lI have hereunto sub nesses. Y l

".Witnesses:'l DWIGHT B.

c. J. c

8 0 i scribed my name inthe presence of twowit- 

